February 21, 2014

Sixers could be short-handed tonight against the Mavs

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers traded away so many players Thursday they may not have but nine players in uniform tonight at 6 when they host the Dallas Mavericks at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Sixers traded starting center Spencer Hawes, starting small forward Evan Turner and reserve power forward Lavoy Allen. Philadelphia received a few players in return, including Danny Granger.

But Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said he has an idea if those players will be available to play tonight.

"They're the No. 1 pace team in the league to start with,'' Carlisle said after Friday morning's shootaround. "With less big guys and more guards available they're going to be looking to play fast and we've got to be prepared for that.

"We've got to keep turnovers down, we've got to rebound well and we've got to play our game. It's challenging, and teams that are depleted and don't have guys yet because of trades and stuff like that, these are always difficult games.''

Carlisle was involved in a simliar situation where his team was short-handed because of circumstances. Carlisle was coaching Indiana when Pacers forward Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson went into the stands at The Palace of Auburn Hills and decided to duke it out with a few fans on Nov. 19, 2004.

Five Pacers were suspended for at least one game by the NBA, with Jackson getting 30 games and Artest suspended for the remaining 73 regular season games and the 13 playoff games Indiana played that season.

"The brawl year we played three games in a row with six or seven guys,'' Carlisle said. "We had to dress eight, but one or two of them were hurt.

"This happens, and we won three of those games. We've got to play a very solid 48 minutes (tonight).''